Teen Who Slipped by World Trade Center Security Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor

A New Jersey teenager who slipped undetected into the World Trade Center and made his way to the top of the tower pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor base jumping charge in a deal that will grant him youthful offender status and keep the offense from his record. 

Justin Casquejo, 16, will also have to serve 23 days of community service, some of which he has already completed.  He appeared in court Wednesday with his mother and lawyer by his side. 

According to court papers, Casquejo said he crawled through a hole in the fence at the trade center site early on a Sunday morning in March, then got on an elevator and went to the 88th floor.

The teen then climbed the stairs to the 104th floor, where the New York Post says he passed a sleeping guard, went out to the roof and made his way up to the antenna.

Casquejo was caught when he came down about two hours later. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing. 

Casquejo later tweeted a semi-apology, saying: "I seriously apologize to anyone who may have been insulted or felt disrespected by my actions. It was not my intention to do so."

The stunt exposed gaps in the security system at the World Trade Center, and those gaps were underscored by the April revelation that three parachutists jumped from the top of the building last fall and recorded it. 

The Port Authority terminated the contract of the firm that ran security at the tower in the aftermath of the breaches.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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